GRAND PRIX
US, 1966, 179 minutes, Colour. James Garner, Yves Montand, Eva Marie Saint, Toshiro Mifune, Brian Bedford, Jessica Walter, Antonio Sabato, Francoise Hardy, Genevieve Page, Adolfo Celi, Claude Dauphin, Jack Hatson, Rachel Kempson, Albert Remy.
Directed by John Frankenheimer.
Grand Prix is almost the racing car epic to end all others. Others include Paul Newrnan's Winning (which traced themes behind the racing world) and Steve Mc Queen's Le Mans (which focussed mainly on the rallies and races).
Grand Prix is ambitious in scale and production. It was filmed in Cinerama and took advantage of the large screen to communicate the speed and sweep of the racing with cameras on the front of cars, split-screen techniques and so on. The film does give a very good cinematic impression of the realities and feel of the racing world.
The film also has some behind-the-scene stories which are satisfactory without being great. Many points are made, however, especially about the quest and its seeming futility, the urge to win and so on. Much is made of the staring reaction of the crowd watching people risking death. Many of these points are made, even more forcibly, in Frankenheimer's The Gypsy Moths (1969). The film marks Frankenheimer1s first film in colour. It is also the beginning (although. Seconds does consider the ravages and challenges of ageing) of Frankenheimer's film explorations of ageing, physical exertion and the need to achieve {e.g. Gypsy Moths, The Horsemen, I Walk the Line).
1. How enjoyable a film was this? Do you think it gave an accurate picture of the racing world? The emphasis of the title on the prize and the big prize? Did the fact that this was a long film detract from its impact or add to it? How involved did the audience become?
2. Comment on the cinematic presentation of the racing world, its camera involvement of the audience in the races? Details of the cars, their parts and the way they worked? Their manufacture and the attitude of the manufacturers and drivers? The quality of the roads, the split-screen techniques, cameras taking the viewpoint of the eye-point of the drivers, screening and filming of the accidents, rewards of winning the race, crowd participation, disappointments of losing? Did the fact that the film was made in authentic locations such as Monte Carlo, Monza, add to the impact of the film?
3. How well did you identify with the crowds watching these races? What attitude did the director expect audiences to have to the people watching? Close-ups of their faces, sharing of precarious excitement, eager anticipation of accidents, impact of blood? There was a lot of criticism of the audience. Was this overdone or was it balanced with the enjoyment of the races?
4. What did the film have to say about courage, daring physical exertion, ambition, the drive to win, tiredness and competitiveness? How was this embodied in the different characters? Did it provide a balance to the scenes of excitement? The personalities of the drivers and their life contrasting with the people who watched?
5. How interesting a picture of the "camp followers" did the film give? The trainers, mechanics, newspaper reporters, publicity people, social followers, girls on the make? Did travelling through Europe give the whole atmosphere an unreal feeling? Glamour for a season? How real is this? How are people able to live fulfilling lives in this atmosphere?
6. Pete Aron - why was he made the central character? The fact that we started with him, that we ended with his seeming disillusion? Was he a misfit? Did he try to be independent and yet was dependent on his ambitions and success? Did we understand his motivation? Why did he drive? Was he an emotional person? His relationship with Scott, irritation at Scott's accident? His relationship with Pat - why did he enter a liaison with her? His disgust at not driving? His relationship with Jeff Jordan? His appreciation of being taken on by Yamura? His relationship with Jean-Pierre? Sarti? How did he and Jean-Pierre? contrast with one another? In what way were they alike? Were you glad that he finally won? What was the significance of his final walk along the empty track? Was the theme of the film summed up in him?
7. Jean-Pierre? Sarti - seemed to be a successful man; was he a sympathetic one? How emotional was he? The fact that he had transcended emotion? The importance of the sequence in the autographed room and his discussion with Louise? How did Louise fill a void in his life? Why was he tired? The hollowness of his relationship with his wife? The importance of the sequences when his wife arrived? How good a driver was he? His teamwork, relationship with Nino, with the Ferrari magnates? How important was the sequence of his death? The fact that this was preceded by a personal sequence with Louise? The fact that he might retire and lead a human life? That he had transcended his lack of fear, e.g. in relation to the accident when the two young men were killed? The irony of Louise being upset and shouting to the crowd? Madame Sarti going in with the corpse? The fact that the Ferrari team withdrew? The effect of his death on the rest of the men?
8. Scott - what point was made in his characterisation? His individualism and ambition, the influence of his mother and family driving him on, the memory of his dead brother's successes, and the fact that he took risks because of this? Relationship with Pete Aron and his bitterness towards him? The hollowness of his marriage with Pat? The fact that at the end he was content to come second? Had he changed and learnt something?
9. Nino - the young driver, enthusiastic, vain, cooperative? Would he become a winner? Did he have genuine feelings? His reaction in withdrawing from the? race because of Jean-Pierre's death?
10. The importance of Louise in the film? The contrast of her magazine world with the racing world? The fact that she had done fashion articles, even with Madame Sarti? How independent a person was she? Why was she fascinated by the racing world? Did the audience see the racing world through her eyes and personality?
11. How well portrayed was Pat? The initial sequences where we met her waking up? Her superficial life? Her coldness towards Scott? Her behaviour while he was in hospital? Why did she begin the liaison with Peter Aron? Why did she support Scott finally? Did they come to an understanding about each other? Would the marriage be a success?
12.What was the point of the character. Lisa? As a follower of the tour? Superficial in her relationships? Was there any continent made on this kind of character by her presentation?
13. Madame Sarti - what did she add to the drama of the film? The selfishness of her relationship with her husband and clinging to him? How well was this portrayed in her appearance, fashions, manner? In the encounter with Louise?
14. The character of Yamura? How important was this to show the international
character of the racing world? Japan's ambitions? Japan's drive for success? The importance of the sequences with Pete and Yamura to discuss the war and its meaning?
15. How well were the themes of the film filled out by the supporting characters? By Jeff Jordan and his bitterness with Peter Aron? His kindness towards Scott and the sequences at the Stoddard home?
16. How interesting a film was it on the whole?
